Halloween events often turn October 31 into a party. In towns big and small people gather to show off their costumes and have a lot of fun before the first day of November arrives. The best Halloween parties are often found in Las Vegas, but it’s just one place to experience fun events and cool things to do on Halloween.

If you’re looking for things to do on Halloween that involve more than candy or trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, consider making plans for a getaway to a big Halloween event—and make sure to leave some room in your luggage for your Halloween costumes. No matter where you call home, there are some really cool Halloween events out there on October 31.

Las Vegas Halloween

In a town that likes to party, Halloween parties are some of the biggest and best of the year. Some of the hot clubs, like Rain and Ghostbar at the Palms and Studio 54 at the MGM Grand, host costume parties on the weekend around Halloween. With more than 50 parties at clubs and resorts up and down the Las Vegas Strip the hardest part will be deciding where to go because there are so many things to do on Halloween. Several of the clubs offer prizes for the best costumes—and we’re talking a substantial amount of money, so you’ll want to start planning now for the coolest Halloween costumes ever.

Disney World Halloween

While Las Vegas Halloween parties have more of an over-21 vibe, Orlando’s Disney Halloween events are primed for families. At the Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party unfolds on several nights between the middle of September and November. This event is packed with candy, fireworks, and parades. Even the Disney characters dress in costume for this celebration.

Tampa Guavaween

Another Florida Halloween event, Tampa Guavaween offers a Latin-flavored celebration. This street party and musical extravaganza is held in Ybor City, Tampa’s National Historic Landmark District. Families are invited to come in costume to enjoy the live music and fun&mdash. After dark, the Big Guava is an adults-only revelry and one of the best Halloween parties in Florida.

New Orleans Halloween

It’s no surprise that there are plenty of things to do in Halloween in New Orleans. The city that’s always connected to all things supernatural finds Halloween as a reason to celebrate as much as a chance to connect with the other side. With cemetery tours, parties up and down Bourbon Street, and ghost stories to spare, October 31 is the perfect time to visit New Orleans.

Salem Halloween

Halloween also is a natural time to make a visit to Salem, Massachusetts. The site of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692, Salem has not forgotten its roots. When you explore this town at harvest time, you can visit museums, see recreations of the trial, and look for the supernatural in this small town just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and Boston. Ghosts tours are a big hit any night of the year, but are even more popular when Halloween comes to Salem.

West Hollywood Halloween

One of the biggest and the best Halloween parties brings more than a half million costumed revelers to Hollywood’s famed Santa Monica boulevard. The street party features a costume contest and a coronation of the Queen in the Carnival. The whole week before the festival, events include live music and good food, along with kids’ games and pumpkin-carving contests.

Houston Halloween

If you’re looking for things to do in Halloween in the Lone Star State, it’s hard to go wrong with the Houston Halloween celebrations. The city is known for its haunted houses as well as its Halloween Bash, a big party that has become a tradition over the past two decades years. A host of free kids’ events are planned too—at the Houston Zoo, kids and their families are invited to ZooBoo, which takes place over the course of several October evenings.

New York City Halloween

It would be a shame to mention some of the best Halloween parties and events without mentioning New York City. Never one to miss out on a party, NYC has a ton of events on the calendar. Creative types show off their best costumes for the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, while the ghouls and ghosts gather for all-night parties and costume-party cruises. A host of events take place at Central Park, including the delightful Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail.